I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things though him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:12-13 ESV

     The strength of which Paul is speaking is his JOY in the Lord.  As spoken to the people in Nehemiah 8:10b The Joy of the Lord is your strength.  Know that…. as it was for Paul and the people in Nehemiah’s day, so it is for us today.  Joy in the Lord equals strength.  This was more than just mere talk by Paul, for he was writing this letter from prison.  He was hoping to come to the church at Philippi but did not know at the time whether he would live or die.  Philippi was not a church to whom he was writing due to some issues they were having, but rather this was a letter of encouragement, thanksgiving, and council to continue to do well.  There was only one reference to any problems in Philippi.  In chapter four he addressed two women that had influence in the church who were having some conflict.  He encouraged them to agree in the Lord. (vs 2) Paul in the letter made much of Jesus in his life and testified of the evidence of Jesus in the lives of others.  In short, as he often does, Paul is making much of Jesus and the work He continues to do in his life and in the lives of others.  Jesus was Paul’s reason for living, as it should be for every Christian, those who have been redeemed by the saving grace of God in Christ Jesus.  When Jesus becomes your reason, then Jesus will control your life and make much of it to perpetuate the gospel of His good news.  The good news is that God sent his only Son, Jesus, into the world to do for us what we could not do for ourselves…. redeem us from sin and its penalty.
     I used the word JOY to make an acrostic to better understand how we might experience joy, which is not just a feeling but a position in life we choose to live out loud and on purpose.

JESUS:
     When an individual lives for themselves they tend to be a miserable person, for nothing in life ever seems to satisfy.  But Jesus lived on purpose as an example for us, that we might imitate his actions.  That is, of course, if the person is in fact “in Christ Jesus” as referred to several times through out the letter of Philippians.  Paul described Jesus’s example as follows.
     Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not to his own interests, but to the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by TAKING THE FORM OF A SERVANT, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:308 ESV

Over:
     Jesus took us over when He came into our lives.  We are no longer our own, for we have been bought with a price. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20&19-20 & 7:23)
     Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been TAKEN HOLD OF BY CHRIST JESUS.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 CSB  I’ve heard it said, “live for something bigger than yourself,” and I cannot think of anything bigger than the love that God has for us. If we live our lives only for ourselves, then our life goals are way too small.

You:
     How you live should show evidence of Christ in you.  Living in the Joy of the Lord will bring peace in your life for in truth nothing else really matters.  All will burn, rust, or waste away in a landfill one day. Paul gave one final challenge to the church in Philippi, and it rings true for us today as if it were written yesterday.
     Rejoice in the Lord always.  I say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers and sisters whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put into practice.  And the GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU.  Philippians 4:4-9 NIV

     Joy is the address where the Christian lives.  Joy many times is something the person experiences but cannot be duplicated for others.  Joy comes from knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior.  To know and experience true joy is truly knowing Jesus; for Jesus is our JOY.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

     But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6 ESV

     This is the message… the gospel… the good news: that the God of mercy has done for us what we could not do for ourselves.  He makes us alive in Christ by his GRACE.  What is grace and how does it work?  Grace is God giving us blessings that we don’t deserve.  The greatest blessing is being made alive in Christ Jesus.  We were dead in our sins and God chose to give us the blessing of a new life in Christ.  Not because we deserved it in any fashion, but God, full of mercy and love, did and does what defines God throughout the Bible.  He acts in ways beyond our comprehension.  So how should we respond to this great blessing, privilege, and honor of being made alive in Christ and seated with him in heavenly places?

Walk In Unity:
     I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to WALK IN a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and though all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6

    Unity among believers is extremely important in how one comes to Christ. In Christ we are one body made up of different responsibilities, with one not being more important than another. The emphasis must be Jesus and the grace of God. This will cause the church to come together not by rules but in the grace by which we were called. The world’s view is divided on how one comes into relationship and salvation as Christian. Those who are in Christ should not be. We are saved by the grace of God – nothing else. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Walk The Christian Life On Purpose:
    Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. Ephesians 5:1 CSB
     It would pay you to read the rest of Ephesians chapter 5 through chapter 6:9, as well as the last few verses from chapter 4 starting with verse 17. These verses are not talking about rules to keep, but a lifestyle to be lived as a result of the new life you have in Christ. People who are alive live on purpose for God. Dead people are simply that – dead to the things of God and the lifestyle that reflects the evidence of Christ in their life.

Stand Against Satan’s Schemes:
     Finally, be strengthened by the Lord by HIS VAST STRENGTH.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11 CSB

     Have you ever gotten dressed by accident?  For most every occasion, we dress on purpose.  When dressing for work, meetings, recreation, bed, etc. we generally have clothes for those purposes.  When dressing for the Christian life we have an outfit for that as well…. armor that has been designed and fashioned by God. If the Christian’s life was just a life of ease, we would dress for a a cruise ship; but instead, concerning life and living as a Christian, we dress for battle. Battle not against each other but the warfare that takes place in the heavens which we are not able to see. It’s hard enough to fight the battles we can see, but the battles we cannot are even more difficult. That is why we fight in HIS VAST STRENGTH and not our own.  Never forget that Satan is as a roaring lion.  Be sober-minded; be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 1 Peter 5:8 CSB
Note… Satan is our adversary, not each other. He will pit us against each other to weaken us in the body, making it easier to be devoured by him. Lions will normally prey on the weak and hurting, for it is easier to take down this one than one that is healthy. This is why, as I began with, you walk in unity as Paul in this letter discussed. Satan has no power agains those who are united in Christ by God. He will come against them… but He will not devour them.

     Let me close with this thought…. sit, walk, and stand in Christ, for this is the identity you should have in Christ.  You are identified as one of his because this describes you as a Christian every day that you live.

Because of HIS Grace ~ Pastor David

     Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you failed to meet the test.  Corinthians 13:5 ESV

     Paul addressed the church in Corinth with a second letter as challenges continued to arise among those who called themselves Believers. In the first letter he addresses sin and division that had infiltrated the church. In the second letter he tells them to examine or test their salvation to make sure that they truly are the of the household of faith. Paul was not known for his speaking ability nor his stature; and as a result, the church of Corinth began to question his credibility. (11:506… 10:10) As in all of Paul’s ministry, he pointed them to Jesus as being the reason for his faith. He even pointed out that they were a church because he had introduced them to Jesus and planted the church in Corinth. (3:1-4) His credibility was not man-centered, but God-centered in Christ Jesus, and he made this clear to them. There are other issues Paul addressed, but the greater challenge for them was to examine or test them selves concerning their relationship with Jesus. Jesus must be the center of everything in the Christian life….He must be the reason for everything, without exception. Anything less would create an inferior presentation of the gospel. God sent Jesus to redeem sinners to Himself – Sinners must believe, repent, and call upon the name of Jesus, for there is salvation in no other. So how does one go about testing themselves in the faith?

Examine:
    The dictionary definition of examine as a verb is this…. to inspect (someone or something) in detail to determine their nature or condition; investigate thoroughly. The examination Paul is challenging those of Corinth with is this:  to see whether you are in the faith. To be a Christian is more than just going to church or making the claim, “I am a Christian.” Have you ever heard someone make the statement concerning a person, “They are the real deal”? Why would one say that? actions. Actions regarding how a person speaks and lives. Understand when examining yourself, you are not looking for salvation in speech or works, but in the evidence of salvation that has already happened. To have experienced salvation in Jesus is to experience a life change in how you live life every day.  Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. James 2:18 CSB

Test Yourselves:
     Understand that being a Christian is not comparing yourself to other Christians. Could you imagine a student in school saying to a teacher after failing a test, “Well, at least I didn’t fail as badly as              “? Testing yourselves is testing your daily actions by how you know and believe Jesus would have you live. Colossians 3:1-17 pretty much sums up how we are to live after we have become a Christian. It would do us all well to memorize or be very familiar with this text. To do well in the test of life, you must know well the answers to the questions of life. The Holy Spirit will help you and grow you if He truly is living in you.

Jesus In You:
     Understand, you will never live perfect this side of Heaven, but it should be your desire. (1 John 2:1-6) If Jesus lives in you, your walk through this world will be about loving Him, not making excuses for the way you are. When you recognize sin in your life, repentance should be a natural response. When Jesus forgave or healed a person, He told them to, “sin no more.” (John 5:14 & 8:11) Jesus must become the focus for everything you do. You are called to be holy people. (1 Peter 1:13-15) What makes you holy is the Holy Spirit living in you. Remember, the Christian’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19) Knowing your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit should cause you to want to use the cleaning supplies of God’s grace, mercy, and the blood of Jesus to stay clean. 
     Remember the statement of Jesus when addressing those who were religious but did know know Him as Lord and Savior. “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven.” Matthew 7:21 ESV

What is the will of the Father?

“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and BELIEVES in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40 ESV

     Let me close with this thought…..What you believe will determine how you live.

Because of HIS Grace ~Pastor David

If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most pitied. 1 Corinthians 15: 19

     When reading the book of 1 Corinthians, you can see that challenges in the early church were not much different than we have today. Sin and confusion distracts from the true purpose of the church, which is to spread the good news (the gospel) and to make disciples. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church because he was informed of these challenges, and wanted to encourage them to walk in the true purpose of the church, which is to bring attention to Jesus and the hope we have in him alone. Some of the problems Paul addressed were divisions, improper physical relationships, not acting in love, factions of belief within the body of believers, and false teaching concerning the resurrection. Today, just as then, anything in the church which does anything less than glorify God and make much of Jesus misses the mark. That mark is the gospel and the hope we have in Jesus alone and his power to save. So how do we overcome the challenges the church faces because of sin?

If…. IN CHRIST WE HAVE HOPE:
     When you take the IF out of the equation, you can see what we have. HOPE IN CHRIST!!! There are people today that look at the church with a critical view because of the issues a particular church body may have. I’m sure one could find something in every church of which to be critical; but remember if you are looking for a perfect church body on this side of heaven, you will never find it. Also, (I hope I say this without sounding judgmental), I do not believe everyone in a church building who calls themselves a Christian has truly experienced salvation. Jesus said these words in Matthew 7:21 (ESV) Not every one who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name?” And then will I declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” Matthew 25 is a whole chapter in which Jesus taught using parallels, showing examples of those who know him and those who do not. If you base your decisions of the church upon people, then you are not looking to the true hope…. Jesus.
The true church is not a group of perfect people, but forgiven people who have put their trust, faith and hope in one who is perfect- Jesus. This I do know; the more you grow in Christ, the more you will look to Jesus, and the more you will love people as Christ does. Jesus needs to be your focus and the hope in which you live. Salvation is in Him alone; why would we want to focus on anyone else?

This life only:
     One who looks and lives based on this life only tends to be focused only on themselves. To say there is no resurrection, as the whole verse above is addressing, is to deny the hope we have in Christ. This, to me, seems a very sad outlook to life. You live and then you die… that’s it…. nothing else. You would be just a blip in time and then soon forgotten. Having hope in Jesus means eternal life and to have it abundantly… more than you will ever use up. You will never die!!!! Again, when the focus of your life is all about Jesus and less about the imperfections around, then you will live a changed life. I often think of the hymn that we sing in church, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” Our hope is not just in this life but the resurrection and eternal life in Christ alone.

People most pitied:
     This small segment of the verse, “People most pitied” is referring to anyone who doesn’t believe in the resurrection. To believe in no resurrection is to believe that you will not encounter a face to face meeting with God, when life as we know it in the physical, ends. Pitied because unless repentance happens before physical death, hope is gone. To teach there is no resurrection is to teach Jesus lied and was not the Son of God. In essence, to deny Jesus.

     In short, FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS ON JESUS! This will take care of many challenges that you may see or may experience in the church, and, if you are not careful….create. When Jesus is your focus, you  will be gospel minded. You will place more importance on sharing the hope you have in Him alone and not on the things that will pass away and have no eternal value. Our hope is, and always will be, in Christ alone.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

     For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 ESV

     I have heard it said that there are many ways to heaven; but according to scripture, this is not a true statement. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 ESV I have a statement that I make concerning things that are clearly taught in the Bible, and this statement is, “It is God’s idea.” As a loving father, raising my children, there were things that were my idea, and I expected my children to abide by what I taught them. My ideas were not self centered but for the purpose of protecting and keeping them from harm. As their father I had wisdom and insight that my young child did not have. So it is in a greater way with our heavenly Father. God protects and leads us in a way that is for our good, but he does not waver from His ideas nor direction. It was for our good that Jesus, his only Son, would come and die in our place, providing the way of salvation. It was God’s idea, and to say there is another way is to say, “I have a better idea than God,” thus making yourself your own god. That, as I have taught before, is exactly what Adam and Eve did in the garden. (Genesis 3) Desiring to be like God, they acted on their own idea instead of listening to God, and the result cost them, us, and ultimately God, dearly. God, like a loving Father, acted on our behalf by sending his Only Son to pay the consequence of our sin. This, again, was and is God’s idea. Saying there is another way is to reject God’s provision of forgiveness for our sin and disobedience. God, in his ultimate wisdom, gave us a road map to find our way back to him. Back to the relationship enjoyed before it was stolen away by the sin of disobedience. This map, referred to and used by many, is called the “Roman Road” as revealed in the book of Romans. Let us travel today with this map called the Roman Road, using God’s idea for a man to find the destination….. arriving at eternal life.

Let us begin at the beginning point, or as referred to on a GPS, your current location, if you are lost.

Everyone needs salvation…
     None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Romans 3:10-12 ESV
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 ESV

The cost of sin
     For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 ESV

The Price paid
     God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ dies for us. Romans 5:8 ESV

Direction of Eternal Life Accepted
     If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10 ESV …… For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13 ESV

Salvation in Jesus
     Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 ESV

     There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 ESV

     For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 ESV

     Remember, this is not a formula leading to Salvation; this is a road map. But this I know; the Bible is full of promises from God, and one promise in scripture is this: You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 ESV If you are a person who has already found eternal life by the way of Jesus, pray that God will use you as a road map leading others to this precious life in Christ. If you have never received Jesus as the way back to relationship with God and ultimately eternal life, then follow the road map and seek him with all your heart, for he isn’t hiding from you. Seek and you will find.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

Her children rise up and call her blessed. Proverbs 31:28 ESV

     Imagine if you can, what Jesus might have done if there was a Mother’s Day celebrated when he walked in the world. Do you suppose that he might have written his mother a letter to express His love and appreciation for her? What do you suppose it would have said?…. How about:

Dear Precious Mother,
     Thank you for all the sacrifices you’ve made for me over the years. I remember the story of how life was on the night I was born. Joseph, my step dad, told me about the night I was born; how you did not complain even when you had traveled for days, and upon arriving in Bethlehem there was not a room available anywhere. He told me you were happy and thankful just to find the stable, and that when I was born you had the sweetest smile… Mom, I love your smile.

He told me about a bunch of shpherds showing up unannounced, and, being the gracious person that you are, you invited them in to show them your newborn son. Most would have sent them away, but not you; you were kind, just as I’ve always known you to be.

Dad said that when I was around two years old, we had to up and move quickly, and you never complained. You just loaded up and went. Mom, I can’t remember you ever complaining about anything. You always seemed to enjoy life no matter what. The only time I have seen you a little upset was when I was around twelve. and I was separated from the family during our travel. You found me in the Temple, and you were more than a little concerned, but so happy you had found me. I’ll never forget that hug and the tears in your eyes… Mom, I love you so much.

Over the years we had many great times as you helped me grow into a man. I remember the day I went to work with dad in the carpentry business. You smiled that sweet smile, gave me a hug, and watched me walk away with dad. I will never forget the look on your face; it was as if you knew and pondered the something more you knew I would one day do. I often caught that pondering look upon your face as you looked at me, and when our eyes met, you would smile. Did I tell you I love your smile?

When I was older and at a wedding reception, you asked me to take care of a wine shortage they experienced. Mom, you knew in your heart it was possible for me to do so… moms always seem to know the abilities of their children. My Father in Heaven put this knowing in a mom’s heart.  When the day came that I left to begin my journey to do that something more, I remember looking over my shoulder one last time to see again that sweet smile, but this time with tears mixed in. A knot came up in my throat, for I knew that, once again, as always, you were sacrificing with a love only a mother can know and do.

The next three years of my life were a bit more than just eventful, but you were always near; if not physically, then in your heart. You heard people criticize me and make many threats towards me, but you know they were wrong and false… you always believed in me, mom; you are so awesome.

I understand how my Father, when he sent Gabriel to you and addressed you as “favored one,” he told you that you would give birth to me, His only Son. My Father, God, always makes the best choices, and choosing you to be my mother was no exception.

Mom, you are a woman as described in Proverbs, and I rise up and call you blessed. By the time you read this, Mom, I will have already completed that “something more I came to do”, and have traveled back to be with my Father. Know this, Mom, I’m preparing a place for you so you can one day join us. Because of your willingness to be my mom and sacrifice so much, many others will one day join us in this place I’m preparing for them as well. I look forward to one day seeing that smile once again, and will welcome you with the arms that hugged you when I was with you.

Blessings, Mom, and until that day, always remember….. I Love You!!!!

Your Son,
Jesus

TODAY LET US BLESS OUR MOTHERS …..

     A woman may give birth and be a biological mom, but a true mom nurtures, cares for the needs 0f, and blesses, her children. Many a woman in our day has never given birth to a child, but has been a mother to one or more children. It is something that God has put in  the heart of a woman willing to take this awesome responsibility and precious roll as designed by God alone. To these women: we want to express gratitude and honor to you this day. You are special and have a value that words cannot express, for God has created you in this fashion. There is no love like a mother’s love, and you know this to be true, as a child clings to his or her mother as to no one else. So let us………

Honor Her:
     This is so very important that God made it one of the 10 commandments.

Honor you father and MOTHER, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD is giving you. Exodus 20:12 ESV

Bless Her:
     Bless her with words of affirmation.

Her children rise up and call her blessed: her husband also, and praises her: Many women have done excellently, but you have surpassed them all. Proverbs 31:28-29 ESV

Love Her:
     Love her for the unconditional love she gives….. she should receive it as well as give it. A mother loves even when many times she is taken for granted. Again I believe this is how God made her. Perhaps next to God’s love, there is no love so unconditional as a true mother’s love.

     Jesus gave us their greatest example of loving his mother. When dying on the cross, he took care of and showed love for his mother before he died. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. John 19:26-17 ESV  Jesus showed love to the one who loved him unconditionally. In short, he honored her, blessed her, and loved her. He showed us by example as he has always done, and we would be wise to follow his example every day in which we live.

     In closing, may I say for millions around this world… Thank You Moms for all you have done, all you are doing and what you will do for as long as you have breath. We love you!!!!

Because of His Grace~Pastor David

     If you were to ask people this question, “What is a church, and how is it suppose to function?” what do you suppose the answers would be? No doubt you would receive many answers, but I believe the main purpose of the church, as instructed by Jesus, is to make disciples and to be witnesses in your community, surrounding areas, and the world. It is an understatement to say the church is criticized today and rejected by many for its imperfect people, but the only perfect person within the church is the Holy Spirit. When salvation by Jesus is experienced by a person, the process of change caused by the indwelling Holy Spirit should be evident in that person’s life. Church is not church because of who we are, it is church because of who the Holy Spirit is in those who make up the church. If the Holy Spirit is not evident within those who gather and call themselves a church, it will look and function like just another organization. However, when the church operates by the leading of the Holy Spirit, it will prosper, not by worldly standards, but by God’s standard. The factor that should draw people to a church should not be the programs, but the evidence of Jesus, and the person of the Holy Spirit being undeniable in that church. Let me share three things that are factors that I believe make up a church.

PRAYER:
     And when they had PRAYED, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God in boldness. Acts 4:31 ESV

     After they prayed, the Holy Spirit indwellled them and empowered them to boldly speak God’s word. They did not speak it arrogantly, or use it to beat people up, but boldly proclaimed Christ. What was this word that was spoken?…. That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that He came to redeem people from their sins. This word which they were speaking boldly of had become flesh (John 1:14) and dwelt with them, and they experienced Him by the Holy Spirit. Prayer should never be an after thought but the first action in our relationship with God and in building the church as instructed by Jesus himself.

BUILD ON THE ROCK:
     I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18 ESV

     What rock was Jesus referring to when He said upon THIS ROCK I will build my church? When in a conversation with his disciples, Jesus asked the question, “Who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15 ESV Peter answered, “You are the Christ the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16 ESV Upon this confession Jesus said, “On this rock I will build my church” Matthew 16:18 ESV  If we focus upon anything in the church more than this, we are building on sand. The church is always to build and focus upon Jesus the Son of the living God. Being religious and being Christian are two very different things. When Paul was addressing the people of Athens in Acts chapter 17, He said to them, “I perceive that in every way you are very religious.” (vs 22 ESV) for they worshipped many different gods. But he described God to those who did not know Him and made this point that as Christians, “In him we live and move and have our being” (vs 28a ESV) This should be the truth we practice in every New Testament church.

LIVE IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
     But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.  Acts 1:8 ESV

     The true church knows there is power in the working of the Holy Spirit to save people from sin. True salvation in a person’s life means true change. Manipulation never saved anyone, but the working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of true believers will point people to Jesus. We should pray and speak boldly the teaching of Jesus knowing it is the Spirit of God that changes a person once they believe and receive. The witness we should be giving is the evidence that the Holy Spirit is living in us. This is not just moral living, although that is important, but the reality of something greater. It is the love we have for the Lord and the desire to please him and bring him much glory. The church is all about Jesus and the proclamation of the the gospel according to his teachings. This will never be done in truth unless it is done in the power of the Holy Spirit.

     The church as we see it will never be perfect, for it is filled with imperfect people. However, those who are imperfect in the church, who are true believers, are filled with the Holy Spirit of the One who is perfect. Many reject the church because of the imperfection of people, but they are missing the perfection of God that is working in the lives of those who serve. I always remind people that church was God’s idea, and to say, “I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian,” is dangerously close to saying what Adam and Eve said in the garden… “I have a better idea than God.” May we never forget where that got us and what it cost God…. his only Son. God’s response to our sin was to die for us. May our recourse to Him be to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let us do this as a church, and God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, will do what only He can do…. redeem people to Himself and grow His church.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

     I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 ESV
     Counting within the verse above, there are seven plus times Jesus referred to himself as I AM, in the gospel of John.  6:35 I AM the Bread of life… 8:12 I AM the Light of the world… 10:9 I AM the Door… 10:11 I AM the Good Shepard… 11:25-26 I AM the Resurrection and the Life… 15:1 A AM the True Vine. The question which needs to be answered concerning our life is this: If Jesus were asked if He was living in you, would His answer be “I am?” Because when the I AM… Jesus… lives in the Christian, it enables that person to refer to the “I am’s” that he or she is, because the great I AM lives within them. I am a child of God. (John 1:12) I am Christ’s friend. (John 15:15) I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:37) I am a temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 3:16) I am a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) I am God’s workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10) I am a citizen of Heaven. (Philippians 3:20) I am loved. (1 John 4:10) and so many more “I am’s” because of Jesus in the believer’s life. Jesus makes very clear to us the way we are to experience the truth and receive life. It is exclusively by Him that we are able to b all these things and one day stand justified from our sin before God.

Jesus said, “I AM THE WAY.”
     Let’s be clear; Jesus did not say, “I am a way;” He said, “THE WAY.” In the thinking and philosophy of some in the world in which we live today, He would be considered very closed-minded to say such a thing. Truth is…. He is. It made Him unpopular when He walked upon the earth, and it is not much different in some circles today. Truth is, though, He didn’t come to be popular, He came to save all who would believe, from sin and death. If there was any other way, then His suffering and death upon the cross would have been unnecessary. However, it was absolutely necessary, for the Bible clearly teaches there is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood. (Hebrews 9:22) Jesus was the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)

Jesus said, “I AM THE TRUTH”
     Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 ESV  To abide means to live there, and we need to live in God’s word…. the Bible. This is not just an address which we visit, but the place where we live. We live there by hiding it in our hearts…. Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 NKJV How does this set you free? When you are in Christ as a Christian, you are all the things listed in the opening paragraph above, and more. It is freeing to know you are more in Christ than you could ever be on your own. To realize that you are saved by grace not your works means you understand the purpose of the cross, and this should cause you to live always with an attitude of gratitude toward God. You will express gratitude by striving to live on purpose the teachings of the Bible…. God’s word of truth. 

Jesus said, “I AM THE LIFE.”
     The life of which Jesus speaks is life without end, because there is no end to His life. Even though He was crucified and died, He rose again because death could not hold Him. Jesus is life everlasting… (John3:16) At the tour of Lazarus Jesus spoke these words, “I am the resurrection and THE life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 11:25-26 ESV  This belief is not an intellectual knowledge but a life knowledge. It is a belief that changes the way you live because you know Him as Savior and Lord. When you know Him as Savior, you have never-ending life, and have been set free from the clutches of sin and death. 

     When Jesus described Himself as the way, truth and life, He also made clear no one comes the God except through Him. Many roads do not lead to Heaven, for to believe this would be saying Jesus lied and his death was unnecessary. Jesus is God in the flesh, and God never lies. Paul said this in Titus 1:2 ESV…… “In hope of eternal life, which God WHO NVER LIES, promised before the ages began.”  The invitation to come to the way, truth and life is open to whosoever will. (John 3:16) The first step is to confess and believe… If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10 ESV  This is a confession made by faith, believing Jesus did all the work required for salvation from sin. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is THE GIFT OF GOD, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV  Let us therefore live and walk with heart knowledge of way, truth, and the life that the world may see in us…. THE GREAT I AM….. JESUS.

Because of His Grace ~Pastor David

     The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.  Luke 4:18 ESV

     Luke’s gospel gives more details concerning Jesus’ life and ministry than any of the other three individual gospels. Luke’s gospel is also the longest of the four gospels. Luke gathered his information concerning Jesus as would a detective or one that studied history, because he never met Jesus. I appreciate the additional accounts concerning the details of Jesus’ life which give us a glimpse into the fact that he did more than could ever be contained in just four gospels.
Another interesting fact concerning Luke is that he was the only Gentile writer in the Bible. This is important because it points to the fact that salvation in Jesus is for all people…. Jews and Gentiles. In Luke 4:18, Jesus was reading in the Synagogue on the Sabbath from the scrolls of the prophet Isaiah. He was reading concerning himself, even though he knew he would be rejected by his own. The fact is, this message is as true today as it was when it was written by Isaiah, and then read hundreds of years later by Jesus.

He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor:
     The good news is that Jesus came to save sinners from their sins. There is poverty from a physical standpoint; but spiritually, we are bankrupt. Every person on the face of the earth is poor spiritually and in need of Jesus’ saving grace to pay a debt we could never pay…. The debt of sin. To come into God’s presence someday thinking you could pay your debt of sin would be like a child going to a banker in an attempt to pay a million dollar debt. To understand what Jesus did for us on the cross, you must realize you are poor, broke, and without any means to pay your debt of sin. It is this person that will be saved and receive all the riches God has for such a person. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 ESV

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind:
     A blind person is captive to the darkness, and except a person receives the message of hope from these words of Jesus, they are doomed to continue to live in the darkness. They are captive to their own deceptions and fooled by Satan as in the garden when he deceived Adam and Eve. Paul, on the road to Damascus, was blinded by the truth/light that overpowered the darkness in his life. It was then that he heard the words of Jesus confirming the fact that He desires to open blinded eyes by sending him, “….to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins.” Acts 26:18 ESV  We have the same assignment today, as the message of the gospel has not changed from that day; nor will it ever, until this world comes to its end.

To set at liberty those who are oppressed:
     Where does oppression come from? The simple and obvious answer – the devil. Jesus overcomes this oppression today just as He did when he walked upon the earth in the flesh.  God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were OPPRESSED BY THE DEVIL, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 ESV   Oppression comes in many forms, but they are always lies from the devil. One such lie of oppression is that God could never forgive you for all you’ve done. This is one of the worst oppressions, for it will keep you in bondage as long as Satan can convince you that it is true. You must ask the question, why did Jesus come to die and then rise again? He did so that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2:21 ESV  The truth Satan doesn’t want you to believe is, if the Son set you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 ESV

     Let us believe and understand the truth that Jesus is the Son of God. That He came to seek and to save the lost, and He is the Savior of the world. There is salvation in no other, and we can be more than conquerors in Christ Jesus, for greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. (Mark 1:1… Luke 19:10… 1 John 4:14… Acts 4:12… Romans 8:37… 1 John 4:4)

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

     But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10: 43-45 ESV

     Jesus lead by example each and every day, the life he calls all Christians to emulate. Never did he say nor imply, “Do as I say not as I do.” He instructed his disciple to do the same by teaching them to be a servant to everyone. (Mark 9:35) It seems backward in thought to say: if you want to be great, be a servant. Traditional thought would say: a servant serves great people. No one will ever be greater than Jesus who was God in the flesh, yet he, as he calls us to be, was a servant to all.
     How are we to be servants today as Christians? We serve. In the years I have served as pastor, I can easily count how many times I have been ask this question, “ If I become a part of this church, how and where will I be able to serve? ” On the other hand, I cannot begin to count how many times I’ve been asked some form this question, “ If I become a part of this church, what does it have to offer me?” A church will never be a great church until those who make up that church body seek how to become servants of one another. We all have different gifts and talents which have been given to us by God. It is called a gift because it is to be given in service to others. Servants are people of action, not simply spectators of all that is going on around them. In order to be a person of action, remember the teaching of Jesus.

Be A Servant:
     In the gospel of Mark we do not read about Jesus birth. This gospel begins with Jesus as an adult doing ministry. In the first couple of chapters he is healing people, casting out evil spirits, having dinner with sinners, and answering questions. Jesus shows us that he was a person of action. He did not just talk about doing service; he did service. We become servants by doing whatever God has put before us to do no matter how big or small. As in Psalm 100: 2 ESV  – Serve the Lord with gladness!  Psalm 100 tells us where to begin as servants. It would do you well to read the whole 100th Psalm and begin there, for it gives a clear picture of the God we serve.

Be A Slave:
     You may say, “I’m a slave to no one nor will I be,” but you would be wrong. Romans 6:16 ESV teaches, Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? Jesus said it this way, “Everyone who practice sin is a slave to sin” John 8:34 ESV
Years ago a singer named Bob Dylan, wrote these lyrics, “You’re gonna serve somebody, yes indeed you’re gonna have to serve somebody Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.” As Christians we have been bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus, and we are no longer our own. (1 Corinthians 6: 19-20) Therefore, we having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. Romans 6:18 ESV

Give your life:
     You will never be able to out-give God, but you need to die trying. To give your life to God is to surrender your will to his. You ‘die trying’ by living every day for him until, as we all will, you die. In Mark 8: 34-35 ESV, Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” Give your life to God, for he gave his life for you!

To be a servant is a choice. My prayer for myself and all Christians is to have the resolve of Joshua when he said, “And if it its evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD. Joshua 24:15 ESV Choose by following the person who was the greatest example of a servant that ever lived……. JESUS.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David